RE-SIGNING import and captain Jan Kostal was ‘crucial’, according to Swindon Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell.

After a brief chat with the 38-year-old, Nell says it was a straightforward process to retain Kostal’s services for another year at the Link Centre.

Kostal iced a total of 26 times last term notching eight goals, but while he may not have been among the club’s top scorers, Nell says the former Karlovy Vary man still had plenty to offer the Cats.

“Jan is crucial. He’s a very important player for us and he is our leader. We are delighted he is back in Swindon again,” said Nell.

“I know he wanted to carry on playing. He enjoys it, he just loves playing hockey. He is settled in Swindon now and it was an easy conversation to have

“He definitely wanted to come back and we are delighted to have him back with us.

“He is solid. His offence isn’t the stuff which makes him so valuable, he is so consistent, he’s got great morals and he works really hard.

“He’s a great example to any of the young players because he has been there and done it. To have the enthusiasm he has to play just shows how much of a good person he is.”

Kostal echoed the thoughts of his player-coach as he too said it was an easy process to return to the Cats.

“It was so easy to sign in Swindon again. I’m happy here and everything around the organisation is brilliant. The players, the coaches and the fans," he said. "

"We are all one big family and I am so happy to be part of the Swindon Wildcats again.

"We had a strong team last year that defended as one and attacked together and I think that is what we had the success we did.

"The key to winning those big games is playing as one team and at the end of the season I thought we were excellent."

The 38-year-old arrived at the Link Centre five years ago, and since then, Nell says the Czech has only increased a sense of professionalism around the club.

Sam Bullas, Renny Marr, Tyler Plews, Stevie Whitfield, Edgars Bebris, Neil Liddiard, Ben Nethersell, Floyd Taylor, Sam Godfrey and Luc Johnson have all agreed to remain at the Cats, while Nottingham Panthers duo Jordan Kelsall and Joe Hazeldine will not be returning, neither will Ollie Stone after he joined Milton Keynes Thunder.

Nell’s roster is now nearing completion, with one more import slot to fill, as well as a few regular places on the roster.

“When Jan arrived at the club he changed a lot of things, not because he wanted to, just because of the way he came,” added Nell.

“He made things change for us as a club and he continues to do that. He is just professional now as he was when we first signed him.

“That is still the same level as when he would have played in the Czech too, he’s got a good set of ethics and we are delighted he is in Swindon.